--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As you live with a character longer, you…" description: "\"As you live with a character longer, you claim more ownership over it. You become more defensive of it. It becomes like a person that you know.\" — Came..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/683/cameron-monaghan-12206_character_as-you-live-with-a-character-longer-you_2982615.png" --- # As you live with a character longer, you claim more… ![“As you live with a character longer, you claim more ownership over it. You become more defensive of it. It becomes like a person that you know.” quote by Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/683/cameron-monaghan-12206_character_as-you-live-with-a-character-longer-you_2982615.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/683/cameron-monaghan-12206_character_as-you-live-with-a-character-longer-you_2982615.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/683/cameron-monaghan-12206_character_as-you-live-with-a-character-longer-you_2982615.png) > “As you live with a character longer, you claim more ownership over it. You become more defensive of it. It becomes like a person that you know.” [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Long‑term engagement with a character creates personal attachment and defensiveness, similar to relationships with people. **In simple terms:** Characters become like people. Key Takeaway Respect the bond you form. Themes creativity psychology storytelling Mood reflective thoughtful Type literary psychological When to use this quote - writing - acting - fan communities - role‑playing Key Concepts attachment identity defensiveness Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance ownership with openness? - When does attachment become limiting? A Different Perspective Attachment may hinder objective critique. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Longer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-longer-2990648/) [Claim Ownership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claim-ownership-1154346/) [Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live/) [Live Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-character-1396018/) [Longer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longer/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Ownership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ownership/) [Ownership Defensive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ownership-defensive-4645609/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) ## Related quotes > [It is quite different, but I love doing a series because you get to live with a character for a much longer amount of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-dekay/it-is-quite-different-but-i-love-doing-a-series-because-you-get-to/) [Tim DeKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-dekay/) > [No one can come and claim ownership of my work. I am the creator of it, and it lives within me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/no-one-can-come-and-claim-ownership-of-my-work-i-am-the-creator-of-it/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [You can't really claim too much ownership of your character. They really do belong to the writers, and in many ways, you're just their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-galecki/you-can-t-really-claim-too-much-ownership-of-your-character-they/) [Johnny Galecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-galecki/) > [When I took ownership on the defensive end, I made a commitment to myself to basically cancel out what was happening on the offensive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-wallace/when-i-took-ownership-on-the-defensive-end-i-made-a-commitment-to/) [Ben Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-wallace/) > [Claim ownership of your dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/claim-ownership-of-your-dreams/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [You don't realize how much a part of your character is part of yourself until you are no longer playing that character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-benz/you-don-t-realize-how-much-a-part-of-your-character-is-part-of/) [Julie Benz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-benz/) > [I wanted to branch out into American television, specifically because you get to develop a character for a longer period of time and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-morgan/i-wanted-to-branch-out-into-american-television-specifically-because/) [Joseph Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-morgan/) > [When you're doing a play that's fully produced, you have the benefit of rehearsing for four or five weeks, so you really get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/when-you-re-doing-a-play-that-s-fully-produced-you-have-the-benefit/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [You fall in love with personality but you live with character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nateman/you-fall-in-love-with-personality-but-you-live-with-character/) [Nateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nateman/) > [Don't give up, live up to your character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/don-t-give-up-live-up-to-your-character/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [The beauty of theater is that you get to live the character from beginning to end without stopping. The natural momentum of the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/the-beauty-of-theater-is-that-you-get-to-live-the-character-from/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [I like to do a lot of research for my films and live my character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-jackson/i-like-to-do-a-lot-of-research-for-my-films-and-live-my-character/) [Amy Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-jackson/) > [Whatever headspace you need to live in for your character is sort of where you stay in between scenes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krysten-ritter/whatever-headspace-you-need-to-live-in-for-your-character-is-sort-of/) [Krysten Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krysten-ritter/) > [I want kids to live through this character I've created. I want them to say that they are Kevin Abstract because they relate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-abstract/i-want-kids-to-live-through-this-character-i-ve-created-i-want-them/) [Kevin Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-abstract/) > [I've done TV, but never where you're given this much time to live with a character, to study the tone and hone it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-farmiga/i-ve-done-tv-but-never-where-you-re-given-this-much-time-to-live-with/) [Vera Farmiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-farmiga/) ## More by Cameron Monaghan > [You can't be too concerned with the philosophical meanings of the character and how it will affect everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/you-can-t-be-too-concerned-with-the-philosophical-meanings-of-the/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > ['Prom' is a movie that follows a bunch of high-schoolers' lives leading up to the prom, the climax of the movie. It focuses all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/prom-is-a-movie-that-follows-a-bunch-of-high-schoolers-lives-leading/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [I think I heard about 'The Giver' being made from when I was 11 or 12 years old. When I got the audition for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/i-think-i-heard-about-the-giver-being-made-from-when-i-was-11-or-12/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [To work with anyone you admire and respect, and have for a very long time, is a surreal thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/to-work-with-anyone-you-admire-and-respect-and-have-for-a-very-long/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [There was never a moment where I was intentionally cribbing from another actor. More so, I grew up watching other actors design the character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/there-was-never-a-moment-where-i-was-intentionally-cribbing-from/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [I come from a creative background, and everything I enjoy is entertaining or playing music for people, which is the exact thing the Community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/i-come-from-a-creative-background-and-everything-i-enjoy-is/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [It seems like the requirements for my characters are that I have to be either mentally ill or disturbed in some way, or I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/it-seems-like-the-requirements-for-my-characters-are-that-i-have-to/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [God, I don't think I could give advice when such other incredible actors have done it before me and done such amazing things. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/god-i-don-t-think-i-could-give-advice-when-such-other-incredible/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [There were obvious budgetary and time constraint differences. With Jamie Marks is Dead, we were operating on a pretty small finance level. So it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/there-were-obvious-budgetary-and-time-constraint-differences-with/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [I seek a diverse spectrum of roles. If I just was in a large-budget feature for a younger audience, then I want to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/i-seek-a-diverse-spectrum-of-roles-if-i-just-was-in-a-large-budget/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [I grew up watching movies and television, and one day, when I was really young, I told my mom I wanted to become an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/i-grew-up-watching-movies-and-television-and-one-day-when-i-was/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [I do play the guitar, and I can sing, but just enough to carry a tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/i-do-play-the-guitar-and-i-can-sing-but-just-enough-to-carry-a-tune/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [One of my favorite things, coming of age, reading comics, was these ideologies and these philosophies of these characters. Seeing those on the page…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/one-of-my-favorite-things-coming-of-age-reading-comics-was-these/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [Experiencing so many firsts, maturing as an actor, a professional, and a human. In the process, gaining friends, family, and the best coworkers a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/experiencing-so-many-firsts-maturing-as-an-actor-a-professional-and-a/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [I play drums and guitar, I snowboard, I do martial arts and acrobatics. I go to the movies every Friday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/i-play-drums-and-guitar-i-snowboard-i-do-martial-arts-and-acrobatics/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) [Explore all 56 Cameron Monaghan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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